Woman With Four Warrants Gets Caught With Fentanyl in Missoula
Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On December 13, 2022, two Missoula Police Department Officers were out on patrol when they observed a vehicle commit a traffic infraction. The officers initiated a traffic stop and pulled the vehicle over.
Officers approached the vehicle and immediately recognized the passenger as 36-year-old Michelle Zavala. One officer knew Zavala from several previous encounters. The officer gathered the driver’s documentation as well. The officer ran both the driver's and Zavala’s names through dispatch and discovered that Zavala had four warrants out of Municipal Court in Missoula, Montana. Police Public Information Officer Lydia Arnold picks up the story.
“Officers recognized Zavala from prior law enforcement contacts,” Arnold said. “Zavala was taken into custody on her four outstanding warrants. During the search incident to arrest, officers located pills suspected to be fentanyl. Officers also observed burnt tin foil.”
Court documents indicate the officer found a small plastic container in Zavala’s pocket that had two pills with “30” stamped into them. Both officers recognized this, in their experience, to be Fentanyl. The officer also located the burnt tin foil in Zavala’s pocket.
“Under the Miranda advisement, Zavala told officers the burnt tin foil was used to smoke fentanyl,” Arnold said. “This case is still under investigation with the Missoula Police Department Detective Division.”
According to court documents, Zavala also admitted the pills were Fentanyl. On December 14, 2022, Zavala made her initial appearance in Missoula Justice Court. She is currently being charged with one count of felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs.
The information in this article was obtained from sources that are publicly viewable.